Feed elbow for compressed gas gun and method of using same

ABSTRACT

An adapter for releasably connecting a hopper to a gas gun is provided. The adapter includes a body with a clamp ring securable to an outlet tube of the hopper. An inlet passage through the body of the adapter includes a clamp ring end in communication with the clamp ring and a breech end alignable with a breech opening of the gas gun. The adapter further includes a mounting element connected to the body. The mounting element includes an interior portion for receiving a segment of a rail system of the gas gun. A locking device is positioned adjacent the mounting element and is configured to releasably secure the mounting element to the rail system of the gas gun in a locked position. A method of using the adapter is also provided.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/696,920, filed Jul. 6, 2005, which is incorporated herein byreference as if fully set forth.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to the sport of paintball. More specifically, itrelates to equipment for playing the sport of paintball; namely, a feedelbow for connecting a paintball marker loader (i.e., a hopper) to apaintball marker.

BACKGROUND

The sport of paintball is played by two teams. A flag is located at eachteam's home base, which are located at opposite ends of the field. Theobject of the game is to “capture” the opposing team's flag before theycapture yours. Players are armed with gas guns, that is, guns firingprojectiles called paintballs under the force of compressed gas, calledpaintball markers (such sport gas guns are referred to hereininterchangeably as “gas guns” or “markers”). If a player is hit with apaintball—a projectile filled or formed with a non-toxic “paint” firedby a marker of a player on the opposing team—the player that is hit isthen eliminated from the game.

Projectiles such as paintballs are stored within a hopper (also referredto as a loader or magazine) that is connected to the marker. Paintballstravel from the hopper through at least one outlet passage into an inletpassage that leads to a breech of the paintball marker where they arefired toward a target. Because it is advantageous to hit as manyopposing players as possible, hoppers typically hold a large quantity ofpaintballs, which feed into the marker (usually capable of automatic orsemi-automatic fire). This process can cause paintballs to jam andsometimes break within the inlet or outlet passages or the breech.Further, because the sport of paintball is typically played outdoors ona field where players maneuver along the ground, dirt and debrisfrequently enter the breech, hopper, or feed passages. Because the gamemoves rapidly, there is little time for cleaning the marker; however,debris combined with damaged paintballs can severely damage a player'smarker and severely hinder the player's experience if not cleaned.

Nevertheless, many paintball markers do not allow for easy and quickcleaning. In most conventional markers, the inlet passage through whichpaintballs move into the breech is stationary and is connected to ahopper outlet passage via threaded members. While this provides for asecure connection between the hopper and the inlet passage, it does notallow for easy cleaning of the breech because a player must completelyremove (i.e., unscrew) the hopper outlet passage from the inlet passageto access the breech for cleaning.

Accordingly, there remains a need for a paintball marker component thatmaintains a secure connection between the hopper outlet passage and theinlet passage while allowing a player to quickly and easily clean thebreech and feed passage.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides an adapter for releasably connecting ahopper to a gas gun is provided. The adapter includes a body with aclamp ring securable to an outlet tube of the hopper. An inlet passagethrough the body of the adapter includes a clamp ring end incommunication with the clamp ring and a breech end alignable with abreech opening of the gas gun. The adapter further includes a mountingelement connected to the body. The mounting element includes an interiorportion for receiving a segment of a rail system of the gas gun. Alocking device is positioned adjacent the mounting element and isconfigured to releasably secure the mounting element to the rail systemof the gas gun in a locked position.

The present invention further includes a method of releasably connectinga hopper to a gas gun. A clamp ring of an adapter is secured to anoutlet tube of the hopper. A button end of a latch of the adapter ismanually depressed, thereby configuring an interior portion of amounting element of the adapter to receive a segment of a rail system ofthe gas gun. The adapter is slid along the rail system of the gas gun,and a breech end of an inlet passage of the adapter is substantiallyaligned with a breech opening of the gas gun. The button end of thelatch of the adapter is then released, thereby securing the adapter tothe rail system in a locked position, with the adapter breech endaligned with the breech opening of the gas gun.

The present invention also provides a method of releasing a hopper froma gas gun. A latch of an adapter which is releasably connecting thehopper to the paintball marker is actuated, thereby releasing theadapter from a rail system of the gas gun in an unlocked position. Theadapter is slid along the rail system to disconnect a breech end of aninlet passage of the adapter from a breech opening of the gas gun.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description,will be readily understood in conjunction with the appended drawingswhich illustrate the preferred embodiments of the invention in thedrawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded front perspective view of a feed elbow for a gasgun in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded right-side view of the feed elbow of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded right-side perspective view of the feed elbow ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a right-side perspective view of the feed elbow of FIG. 1fully assembled and in a locked position;

FIG. 5 is a front right perspective view of the feed elbow of FIG. 4connected to a rail system of the compressed gas gun in a lockedposition;

FIG. 6 is a front left perspective view of the feed elbow of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a right-side perspective view of the feed elbow of FIG. 1fully assembled and in an unlocked position; and

FIG. 8 is a front right perspective view of the feed elbow of FIG. 7connected to a rail system of the compressed gas gun in an unlockedposition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenienceonly and is not considered limiting. Words such as “front,” “back,”“top,” and “bottom” designate directions in the drawings to whichreference is made. Similarly, the terms “right,” “left,” “top,”“bottom,” “forward,” and “rearward” are from the perspective of a useroperating a compressed gas gun. Rear or rearward means toward the userand forward means away from the user. This terminology includes thewords specifically noted above, derivatives thereof, and words ofsimilar import. Additionally, the terms “a” and “one” are defined asincluding one or more of the referenced item unless specifically noted.The phrase “at least one of” followed by a list of two or more items,such as A, B, or C, means any individual one of A, B, or C, as well asany combination thereof.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described belowwith reference to the drawing figures where like numerals represent likeelements throughout.

Referring to FIGS. 1-8, generally, an adapter, for example, a feed elbow10 is shown, which releasably connects a hopper 70 (represented only inFIG. 5 for the sake of clarity) to a gas gun (gun or marker that firesprojectiles under the force of compressed gas), for example, a paintballmarker 60. The feed elbow 10 includes a clamp ring 12 securable to anoutlet tube 72 of the paintball hopper 70. (FIG. 5 represents, with adownward arrow, the positioning of outlet tube 72 within the clamp ring12.) An inlet passage 14 of the feed elbow 10, having a diametersufficient to allow the passage of paintballs, includes a clamp ring end16 in communication with the clamp ring 12 and a breech end 18 alignablewith an opening 62 of a breech 64 of the paintball marker 60. The feedelbow 10 further includes a mounting element 20 connected to the clampring 12 and the inlet passage 14. The mounting element 20 may be affixedto both the clamp ring 12 and the inlet passage 14 or, alternatively, itmay be affixed to only the clamp ring 12 or only the inlet passage 14.The mounting element 20 includes an interior portion 22 for receiving asegment of a rail system 66 of the paintball marker 60. A locking device24 is positioned adjacent the mounting element 20 and is configured toreleasably secure the mounting element 20 to the rail system 66 of thepaintball marker 60 in a locked position.

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate exploded perspective views of the feed elbow 10.The clamp ring 12 receives a hopper outlet tube 72 and is flexible toreceive hopper outlet tubes of varying diameters. The clamp ring 12includes an adjustable fastening device to secure the clamp ring 12 tothe outlet tube 72 of the hopper 70. More specifically, the clamp ring12 is a flexible band with an opening 26. A clevis device 28 isintegrated into the clamp ring 12 at the location of the opening 26. Abolt 30 with a washer 32 extends through the clevis device 28 and isfastened by a nut 34, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 8, to secure theclamp ring 12 to the outlet tube 72 of the paintball hopper 70. Theclamp ring 12 is adjusted (i.e., tightened or loosened) by adjusting thebolt 30 with respect to the nut 34 to connect the clamp ring 12 to thehopper outlet tube 72. The clamp ring 12 of the present invention is notlimited to such a design, and may expand and retract by alternativemeans such as elastic, snap-in teeth, quick release-type skewer,magnets, threads, etc.

The locking device 24 of the feed elbow 10 further includes a housing 36in communication with the mounting element 20 including a substantiallylongitudinal axis A (represented only in FIG. 4 for the sake ofclarity), a closed end 38, and an open end 40. The housing 36 may beintegral with both the mounting element 20 and the clamp ring 12 or,alternatively, it may be integral with only the mounting element 20 oronly the clamp ring 12. A spring 42 is disposed within the housing 36along the longitudinal axis A toward the closed end 38 of the housing36. A latch 44 is substantially disposed within the housing 36 along thelongitudinal axis A toward the open end 40 of the housing 36. In otherwords, and as will be described in greater detail below, the latch 44partially extends from the housing 36 in a locked position (asillustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6), and is preferably fully disposed withinthe housing 36 in an unlocked position (as illustrated in FIG. 7). Thelatch 44 includes a spring end 46 in contact with the spring 42, abutton end 48 extending from the housing 36 adjacent the open end 40,and a locking element 50 extending longitudinally along an exteriorsurface of the latch 44 adjacent the mounting element 20. A cap 52includes an aperture 54 and is mounted to the open end 40 of the housing36, thereby containing the latch 44 and the spring 42 within the housing36, as illustrated in FIGS. 4-8. The button end 48 of the latch 44extends along the longitudinal axis A through the aperture 54 of the cap52.

The housing 36 further includes a channel (not shown) extendinglongitudinally along an internal surface of the housing 36 for receivingthe locking element 50 of the latch 44.

A pair of guide members 56 extends within the interior portion 22 of themounting element 20 of the feed elbow 10. The guide members 56complement the shape of the interior portion 22 of the mounting element20 and help secure the feed elbow 10 to the rail system 66 of thepaintball marker 60 in the locked position, and help slide the feedelbow 10 along the rail system 66 in the unlocked position. FIG. 6 mostclearly illustrates the configuration between the guide members 56 andthe rail system 66.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 7, the mounting element 20 furtherincludes an aperture 58 configured to receive the locking element 50 ofthe latch 44 (as shown in FIG. 4). More specifically, the aperture 58extends between the interior portion 22 of the mounting element 20 andthe interior surface of the housing 26, adjacent the channel (notshown), in a substantially perpendicular orientation relative to thelongitudinal axis A of the housing 26.

The spring 42 is biased to maintain the latch 44 toward the open end 40of the housing 36, thereby maintaining the button end 48 of the latch 44extending from the housing 36 adjacent the open end 40 and the lockingelement 50 disposed within the aperture 58 of the mounting element 20(as illustrated in FIG. 4) to secure the mounting element 20 to the railsystem 66 of the paintball marker 60 in the locked position (asillustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6). In the locked position, the inlet passage14 of the feed elbow 10 is substantially aligned with the breech opening62 of the paintball marker 60, and the locking element 50 is disposedbetween rails 68 of the rail system 66 of the paintball marker 60 tomaintain the paintball hopper 70 in the locked position as illustratedin FIGS. 5 and 6. More specifically, mechanical interference between therails 68 and the locking element 50 secures the mounting element 20 inthe locked position. The locked position is that in which the user canfire the paintball marker 60, i.e., paintballs can be passed from thepaintball hopper 70, through the feed elbow 10, and to the breech 64 forfiring.

Manual depression of the button end 48 of the latch 44 moves the latch44 toward the closed end 38 of the housing 36 which overcomes the springbias and compresses the spring 42 toward closed end 38 of the housing36. Such movement of the latch 44 causes the locking element 50 of thelatch 44 to slide from the aperture 58 of the mounting element 20 intothe channel (not shown) of the housing 36 to release the mountingelement 20 from the rail system 66 of the paintball marker 60 to anunlocked position. More specifically, the locking element 50 is releasedfrom between the rails 68 of the rail system 66 of the paintball marker60 to release the mounting element 20 to the unlocked position. Theunlocked position is that in which the user can access the componentsfor cleaning, etc.

While keeping the button end 36 depressed, the user slides the feedelbow 10 along the rail system 66 of the paint marker 60 either forwardor rearward of the breech opening 62. A rearward position is representedin FIG. 8. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the breech opening 62 is uncoveredallowing access to the inside of the breech 64.

After a user cleans the breech 64, the breech opening 62, and/or theinlet passage 14, the user (while keeping the button end 36 depressed)simply slides the feed elbow 10 back into the firing position, i.e.,until the inlet passage 14 is substantially aligned with the breechopening 64 as illustrated in FIG. 5. The user then locks the feed elbow10 into place by releasing the button end 36 which in turn releases thespring 42. The bias of the spring 42 forces the latch 44 toward the openend 40 of the housing 36. Such movement of the latch 44 causes thelocking element 50 of the latch 44 to slide out from the channel (notshown) of the housing 36 and into the aperture 58 of the mountingelement 20 (as illustrated in FIG. 4) to secure the mounting element 20to the rail system 66 of the paintball marker 60 back into the lockedposition.

The feed elbow 10 is preferably made from polymeric material, forexample, polyurethane, nylon, or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. Thepresent invention, however, is not limited to such material, and thefeed elbow 10 may be made from various plastics, resin, metal, or anyother material suitable for performing the above-stated functions.

The rail system 66 of the paintball marker 60 may be of thePicatinny-type, the Weaver-type, or any other type that provides anadequate mounting platform for the feed elbow 10 (and hence, the hopper70) of the present invention.

The feed elbow 10 of the present invention allows a user to quickly andeasily clean the breech 64 without having to disassemble the unit. Thus,the present invention also allows a user to quickly return to firing thepaint marker 60 at opposing players after cleaning. The feed elbow 10 ofthe present invention is adaptable for right or left-handed users.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described indetail above, the invention is not limited to the specific embodimentsdescribed which should be considered as merely exemplary. Furthermodifications and extensions of the present invention may be developedand all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of thepresent invention as defined by the appended claims.

1. An adapter for releasably connecting a hopper to a gas gun, the adapter comprising: a body with a clamp ring securable to an outlet tube of the hopper; an inlet passage through the body comprising a clamp ring end in communication with the clamp ring and a breech end alignable with a breech opening of the gas gun; a mounting element connected to the body, the mounting element comprising an interior portion for receiving a segment of a rail system of the gas gun; and a locking device positioned adjacent the mounting element configured to releasably secure the mounting element to the rail system of the gas gun in a locked position.
 2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the locking device further comprises: a housing comprising a substantially longitudinal axis, a closed end, and an open end; a spring disposed within the housing along the longitudinal axis toward the closed end of the housing; a latch substantially disposed within the housing along the longitudinal axis toward the open end of the housing, the latch comprising a spring end in contact with the spring and a button end extending from the housing adjacent the open end; and a cap comprising an aperture, the cap mounted to the open end of the housing thereby containing the latch and the spring within the housing, wherein the button end of the latch extends along the longitudinal axis through the aperture of the cap.
 3. The adapter of claim 2, wherein the latch further comprises a locking element extending longitudinally along an exterior surface of the latch adjacent the mounting element.
 4. The adapter of claim 3, wherein the housing comprises a channel extending longitudinally along an internal surface of the housing for receiving the locking element of the latch.
 5. The adapter of claim 4, wherein the mounting element comprises an aperture configured to receive the locking element of the latch.
 6. The adapter of claim 5, wherein the aperture extends between the interior portion of the mounting element and the interior surface of the housing, adjacent the channel, in a substantially perpendicular orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing.
 7. The adapter of claim 5, wherein the spring is biased to maintain the latch toward the open end of the housing, thereby maintaining the button end of the latch extending from the housing adjacent the open end and the locking element disposed within the aperture of the mounting element to secure the mounting element to the rail system of the gas gun in the locked position.
 8. The adapter of claim 7, wherein the locking element is disposed between rails of the rail system of the gas gun to maintain the mounting element in the locked position.
 9. The adapter of claim 7, wherein the button end of the latch is movable to displace the latch toward the closed end of the housing to compress the spring toward the closed end of the housing, to displace the locking element of the latch from the aperture of the mounting element into the channel of the housing to release the mounting element from the rail system of the gas gun to an unlocked position.
 10. The adapter of claim 9, wherein the locking element is releasable from between the rails of the rail system of the gas gun to release the mounting element to the unlocked position.
 11. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the a clamp ring is flexible to receive hopper outlet tubes of varying diameters.
 12. The adapter of claim 11, wherein the clamp ring comprises an adjustable fastening device to secure the clamp ring to the outlet tube of the hopper.
 13. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the hopper comprises a paintball hopper and the gas gun comprises a paintball gun.
 14. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the adapter further comprises a feed elbow for delivering ammunition from the hopper to the gas gun.
 15. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the adapter comprises polymeric material.
 16. A method of releasably connecting a hopper to a gas gun, the method comprising the steps of: securing a clamp ring of an adapter to an outlet tube of the hopper; manually depressing a button end of a latch of the adapter, thereby configuring an interior portion of a mounting element of the adapter to receive a segment of a rail system of the gas gun; sliding the adapter along the rail system of the gas gun; substantially aligning a breech end of an inlet passage of the adapter with a breech opening of the gas gun; and releasing the button end of the latch of the adapter, thereby securing the adapter to the rail system in a locked position.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of releasing the button end of the latch of the adapter causes a locking element of the latch be disposed between adjacent rails of the rail system of the gas gun.
 18. A method of releasing a hopper from a gas gun, the method comprising the steps of: actuating a latch of an adapter, the adapter releasably connecting the hopper to the gas gun, thereby releasing the adapter from a rail system of the gas gun in an unlocked position; and sliding the adapter along the rail system to disconnect a breech end of an inlet passage of the adapter from a breech opening of the gas gun.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of actuating includes manually depressing a button end of a latch of an adapter, displacing a locking element of the latch from between adjacent rails of the rail system of the gas gun.
 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of removing a clamp ring of the adapter from an outlet tube of the hopper. 